Editing files is but one of the many ways of creating files. Once files are created, OpenVMS also provides a rich set of commands for performing various operations on the files. This course introduces both a range of commands and discussion of why and how to organize your files and your approach to handling them.

Building in part on commands introduced in earlier courses, this course demonstrates how combinations and sequences of commands and utilities let the user accomplish more complex tasks. The course on DCL programming discusses how to combine commands and utilities into more sophisticated DCL command procedures.

Planning File Maintenance

• Directory and File Naming Conventions
  • Indicating a File’s Use
  • Using the Benefits in DCL
  • Finding Out-of-Place Files
  • Enforcing and Encouraging Organization
• Using Logical Names
  • Restructuring With Logical Names
• Using DCL Maintenance Procedures

Organizing Directories and Files

• Guidelines for Organizing Trees and Files
• Considering the Benefits

Basic Commands for Manipulating Files

• Making and Growing Files
  • Using the CREATE Command
  • Appending to a File
  • Using CREATE and Append
• Duplicating or Renaming Files
  • Duplicating Files
  • Specifying Input and Output
  • Checking Results
  • Copying Files
  • Changing a File’s Name or Location
  • Using RENAME
• Removing Files
  • Checking Results
  • Deleting and Purging Files

Viewing and Reordering Files

• Displaying Content
  • Using TYPE Features
• Searching Files
  • Using SEARCH Options
• Comparing Files
  • Comparing Two Files
• Reordering Data
  • Sorting Simple Files
  • Using SORT Without a Defined Key
  • Merging Files
  • Using MERGE
  • Defining SORT Keys